Safe trailing distance warning for vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for spacing vehicles comprising a first vehicle having a rear directed first detection means capable of detecting a rear located second vehicle wherein the first vehicle has means cable of determining the rate at which the second vehicle is reducing the distance between the first and second vehicles, said first vehicle also having signaling means for generating a signal directed to said second vehicle when the second vehicle'"'"'s velocity and/or distance relative to the first vehicle is determined to be too great to safely stop before contacting the first vehicle from the rear wherein the signaling means generates a signal which is proportionately related to the velocity of the second vehicle, provided further that the signaling means is inactivated when the velocity of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is less than a predetermined rate.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method to avoid collisions is described herein.
The invention is primarily directed to preventing tail-gating by motorists. The method and device may also be utilized to detect stationary objects and to alert the driver of a vehicle of an imminent collision.
-
Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A method for spacing vehicles comprising a first vehicle having a rear directed first detection means capable of detecting a rear located second vehicle wherein the first vehicle has means cable of determining the rate at which the second vehicle is reducing the distance between the first and second vehicles, said first vehicle also having signaling means for generating a signal directed to said second vehicle when the second vehicle'"'"'s velocity and/or distance relative to the first vehicle is determined to be too great to safely stop before contacting the first vehicle from the rear wherein the signaling means generates a signal which is proportionately related to the velocity of the second vehicle, provided further that the signaling means is inactivated when the velocity of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is less than a predetermined rate.
- 17. A device having means for determining the distance or relative velocity between two vehicles, wherein the device is aimed from the rear of a first vehicle where a signal is initiated, received and read in the first vehicle, and means to provide a second signal to at least one of the vehicle operators that the distance between the vehicles is at a predetermined distance wherein the second signal is pulsed proportionately related to the velocity of the second vehicle, provided further that the means to provide the second signal is inactivated when the velocity of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is less than a predetermined rate.
Specification